Help me age these bikes?

[shadaboot27]

I have 4 bikes that are very old. I'm certain that all of them are 1920's or older. But I'd like to know exact or rough dates. I have all of the frame numbers but All the frame number charts I look at seem to be pretty useless. All of them have open ended front fork drop outs which I've been told means they are pre 1925. The Humber also has a cottered bottom bracket which makes me think it might even be antique.

Frame numbers are:

Raleigh: H29647

Humber: 560181

Hercules: H4643

Hercules path racer: YH2906

 

[User42423]

I have 4 bikes that are very old. I'm certain that all of them are 1920's or older. But I'd like to know exact or rough dates. I have all of the frame numbers but All the frame number charts I look at seem to be pretty useless. All of them have open ended front fork drop outs which I've been told means they are pre 1925. The Humber also has a cottered bottom bracket which makes me think it might even be antique.

Frame numbers are:

Raleigh: H29647

Humber: 560181

Hercules: H4643

Hercules path racer: YH2906

Hi. after studying your images (closely), I can give you the following info.

Machine 1.....Raleigh. This appear to be a post 1927 model. Looking at my frame number list, H 29647 indicates a date of 1933. I noticed the bike is fitted with a Sturmey Archer 3-speed!. Can you look, and tell me the stamping.
Machine 2....Humber. This appear to be a pre-1920 machine. The forks & chain-wheel are nickel plated. Do you have a close image of lamp bracket?
Machine 3....Hercules. This appears to be a late 30s roadster.
Machine 4....Hercules 'path racer'. This appears to be a 1930s Hercules 'light roadster' (NOT A PATH RACER). A 'path racer wouldn't have brakes!!.

 

[User42423]

I have 4 bikes that are very old. I'm certain that all of them are 1920's or older. But I'd like to know exact or rough dates. I have all of the frame numbers but All the frame number charts I look at seem to be pretty useless. All of them have open ended front fork drop outs which I've been told means they are pre 1925. The Humber also has a cottered bottom bracket which makes me think it might even be antique.

Frame numbers are:

Raleigh: H29647

Humber: 560181

Hercules: H4643

Hercules path racer: YH2906

This info is only a guide, different makers used different methods..
No 1......"closed fork ends" normally denotes pre-1915.
No 2....."cottered bottom bracket" were in use between 1895 & 1930.
No 3......"Nickel plating" was used pre-1930
No 4......Chrome plating" was used post 1930.

 

[glenn forger]

Good work fellah. I reckon you're mad about cycling.

 

[shadaboot27]

Hi. after studying your images (closely), I can give you the following info.

Machine 1.....Raleigh. This appear to be a post 1927 model. Looking at my frame number list, H 29647 indicates a date of 1933. I noticed the bike is fitted with a Sturmey Archer 3-speed!. Can you look, and tell me the stamping.
Machine 2....Humber. This appear to be a pre-1920 machine. The forks & chain-wheel are nickel plated. Do you have a close image of lamp bracket?
Machine 3....Hercules. This appears to be a late 30s roadster.
Machine 4....Hercules 'path racer'. This appears to be a 1930s Hercules 'light roadster' (NOT A PATH RACER). A 'path racer wouldn't have brakes!!.

Heres a close up of the lamp mount.

"Humber. This appear to be a pre-1920 machine. The forks & chain-wheel are nickel plated" Dont you mean pre 1930?

 

[User42423]

Heres a close up of the lamp mount.

"Humber. This appear to be a pre-1920 machine. The forks & chain-wheel are nickel plated" Dont you mean pre 1930?

Nickel plating was used till 1929. Chrome came in in 1930.

 

[User42423]

I have 4 bikes that are very old. I'm certain that all of them are 1920's or older. But I'd like to know exact or rough dates. I have all of the frame numbers but All the frame number charts I look at seem to be pretty useless. All of them have open ended front fork drop outs which I've been told means they are pre 1925. The Humber also has a cottered bottom bracket which makes me think it might even be antique.

Frame numbers are:

Raleigh: H29647

Humber: 560181

Hercules: H4643

Hercules path racer: YH2906

Looking at your Hercules sports, its similar to something I own.

This is my 1910 W.M.C semi sports roadster. I bought this from an elderly couple living in Sussex about 15 years ago.

 

[shadaboot27]

Looking at your Hercules sports, its similar to something I own. View attachment 113695
This is my 1910 W.M.C semi sports roadster. I bought this from an elderly couple living in Sussex about 15 years ago.

Thats very nice!